Saturday, October 31, 2009

Samsung's taking its sleek smartphone stylings and applying them to its debut entry into minicamcorder territory. Looking a bit like the Memoir, but with the lens section angled slightly upward for (presumably) more comfortable operation, the HMX-U10 combines an eye-catching design with some--but not all--of the features necessary to succeed in the competitive direct-to-Web camcorder market.

It certainly takes the lead by offering 1920x1080 30fps video; the Flip UltraHD, Creative Vado and Kodak Zi6 all do only 1280x720 720p. And while the CMOS sensor is relatively large compared to the Flip and Kodak--1/2.3 inch vs. 1/4.5--it also crams in boatloads more pixels to be able to claim 10-megapixel still photos.

Like its compatriots, the U10 will allow for USB battery charging--however the USB cable isn't built in--and ship with in-camcorder software for editing and direct-to-YouTube uploading. The U10 does offer an SD card slot, a useful feature which the Flip lacks, but has a smaller 2-inch LCD. Like its cohorts, the U10 has a fixed focal-length lens. But it's a pretty slow one, f3 compared to Flip's f2.4 and Kodak's f2.8, which, especially in conjunction with the high-resolution sensor, doesn't bode well for low-light video quality.

With dimensions of 2.2 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches it's slightly wider than the Vado but smaller than the rest. That doesn't seem to include the lens, which pokes out from the body a bit. It's one of the lightest at 3.4 ounces, though.

So what's missing? A catchier name, for one. It'd also be nice if it comes in more colors than just silver. When it ships in September, in silver, red, greet and black, Samsung will be asking $199.99 for it, putting it at the pricey end of the spectrum.

The ElectricPig.com posted a review about Samsung ST1000 digital camera.

We’ve just had official confirmation that the Samsung ST1000 camera we spotted in blurrycam shots a couple of days ago is the real deal – and according to Samsung it’s the first ever compact camera to offer GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in a single body.

GPS allows the Samsung ST1000 to geotag each shot you take, and it will also keep you informed of the city and region you’re currently in (in case you, you know, forget) via the camera’s LCD screen.

Bluetooth lets you transfer shots directly to mobile phones, while Wi-Fi allows you to email them to pals, or upload stills and videos direct to Facebook, YouTube and Picasa. The ST1000 is DLNA compliant too, so you can stream the snaps to other DLNA gear – HDTVs, media servers, digital photo frames and the like.

The Samsung ST1000 also possesses the world’s highest resolution 3.5-inch touchscreen, and it supports a new feature called Smart Touch Auto Focus. This allows you to pinpoint the auto focus area simply by touching a location on the screen. Hold your finger there for longer and the camera will take a picture.

The ST1000 was only one of three new Samsung cameras unveiled today: they also announced the ST500 and ST550.

PRESS SUMMARY

Samsung Electronics America Inc. today introduced new camcorders that make recording and viewing video in HD easy. The HMX-U10 is an ultra compact camcorder that records in full-HD and takes 10 mega-pixel still photos. It also allows users to easily share content online with its one-touch “upload” button to YouTubeTM. The SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 record video in standard definition but then upscale the footage to near full-HD when viewing through an HDMI output (cable sold separately). These new models join Samsung's second-half camcorder lineup for 2009, which includes the recently introduced SMX-C14 and SMX-C10.

“We want to make it easy for everyone, from the young family of four to the tech-savvy professional, to record and view HD footage,” said Reid Sullivan, senior vice president of Audio/Video and Digital Imaging Marketing at Samsung Electronics America. “The addition of the HMX-U10 and the K-Series adds strength to an already impressive lineup of Samsung camcorders and offers a digital video recording solution for every consumer segment.”

HMX-U10

The HMX-U10 is the ideal solution for the consumer looking for ultimate portability and ease-of-use in an HD camcorder. The HMX-U10 offers full-HD video recording with 1920x1080 resolution. The HMX-U10's 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor also gives consumers the ability to capture impressive 10 mega-pixel digital still images, all which can be reviewed on the camcorder's clear, two-inch LCD screen. At 56mm x 103mm x 15.5mm, and weighing just 95g including the battery, the HMX-U10 is ultra-compact with an ergonomic design that breaks free of the traditional look and feel of pocket-sized camcorders. Its sleek frame is accentuated by a wave-design that angles the body of the camcorder at seven degrees, allowing users to grip the camcorder more comfortably, reducing any related stress on the wrist or arm. This same ergonomic design philosophy is also found in the SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 camcorders, which feature Samsung's unique Active Angle Lens.

SMX-K40 and SMX-K45

With the new K-Series, consumers can enjoy near full-HD quality video for the price of a standard definition camcorder. The SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 record exceptional standard definition video at a resolution of 720x480, and then can be played back on an HDTV in near full-HD quality thanks to advanced upscaling technology and HDMI connectivity. With a built-in HDMI output on the camera and HDMI cable (sold separately), consumers connect the camcorder directly to their HDTV for near full-HD playback.

The SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 also offer one of Samsung's most powerful zoom lenses. Consumers have a 65x Intelli-Zoom at their fingertips which drastically enhances their ability to capture any moment they see no matter how far away they may be. Significantly more reliable than a standard digital zoom which negatively affects the quality of the image, Samsung's new Intelli-Zoom allows users to go beyond the camcorder's 52x optical zoom. The K-Series also features Samsung's advanced Optical Image Stabilizer, ensuring that video will be shake-free, whether zoomed out or using the camcorder at it's full 65x Intelli-Zoom. Furthermore, the camcorder's world-class Schneider-KREUZNACH lens delivers the quality and performance needed to help capture the most impressive video possible.

The SMX-K45 offers an internal 32GB Solid State Drive (SSD), providing up to 20 hours and 40 minutes of recording time depending on the recording mode. Samsung's renowned SSD technology offers a substantial advantage over the use of Hard Disk Drives (HDD) in a digital camcorder. SSD is more energy efficient, produces very low heat emission, and is faster and more durable than HDD because there are no moving parts. The SMX-K40 does not have internal storage and requires the use the of a SD/SDHC card.

Unique Features

The new HMX-U10 and K-Series follow in the footsteps of the newly introduced SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 and boast several unique features which differentiate them from the competition and make video recording even more enjoyable for consumers. Such features include Samsung's built-in intelli-studio software, animated thumbnails, and a versatile charging system.

No longer do consumers need to worry about being near their home computer in order to edit or share their video. The HMX-U10 and the K-Series all feature Samsung's play-edit-sharing program called intelli-studio. The camcorders' built-in intelli-studio program allows consumers to turn any computer into a mobile studio, giving them the ability to edit and play their video without having to install supporting software. Sharing is also simplified using intelli-studio as the program takes the hassle out of uploading content to popular video-sharing Web sites. For example, a one-touch “upload” button, available directly on the HMX-U10, provides a direct connection to YouTube™, further reducing the number of steps needed to upload footage. In addition, the camcorders also allow basic on-camera editing, including the ability to split video files.

Samsung's animated thumbnail feature simplifies the way users search for video clips. Each video clip saved on the camcorder is represented by a small thumbnail on the LCD screen. When scrolling through one's videos, each thumbnail will provide a short playback of the video file when highlighted by the user. The HMX-U10, and SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 also feature a versatile charging system. Users can either recharge the battery by connecting the camcorder to the supplied AC adapter or via USB while the camcorder is connected to a computer.

If you're anything like us (and let's face it, you're exactly like us), you've been counting down the nanoseconds until Samsung finally revealed what its 'Tap and Take' campaign was all about. This, folks, is it. As many of you sharp folks surmised, Samsung is delving deep into the intelligent camera arena, equipping its luscious CL65 (no, not that CL65) with a 12.2 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom, 720p (30fps) movie mode, an HDMI output, and a 3.5-inch touchscreen that utilizes a Smart Gesture user interface. Furthermore, the camera can access certain features when simply tilted, and the built-in Bluetooth 2.0 module enables users to easily share images with other BT-equipped devices.

Considering that you're probably still not impressed, how's about a little more on the cutting-edge front? The point-and-shoot also includes WiFi (much like Sony's disappointing DSC-G3 and Panny's Lumix DMC-TZ50), giving users the ability to upload directly to Facebook, Picasa and YouTube. Unfortunately, all photos uploaded via WiFi will be reduced to a resolution of two megapixels, and while we understand the reasoning, we figure an option for full / reduced res would've been a much better compromise. At any rate, the device also includes DLNA support for streaming to HDTVs and the like, while the integrated GPS chip handles the geotagging. The cam, which is admittedly bursting at the seams with features, will land next month in the US for $399.99. Full release is after the break.

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. – August 13, 2009 - Samsung Electronics America, Inc., today unveiled the CL65, featuring built-in geo-tagging, Bluetooth 2.0, DLNA compatibility, and Wi-Fi* connectivity. With the new CL65, users can make a true visual connection with their family and friends by quickly and easily sharing photo memories and moments while on-the-move.

Packed full of innovation and encased in a sleek compact frame, the CL65 offers the unprecedented combination of geo-tagging, Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi, and DLNA compatibility. The geo-tagging capability allows users to keep track of where they've traveled, while DLNA compatibility and Wi-Fi connectivity enable users to send and share pictures almost as quickly as they take them. The CL65 is a great way to keep your network of friends and family in the know.

Thanks to the built-in geo-tagging capability, the CL65 displays the city on the camera's LCD screen, providing users with a display of the location where they're taking a photo, as well as a reference for when they are reviewing and managing images. With the embedded PC software package 'intelli-studio', users can also easily view, edit and manage their pictures right on the camera before uploading them to popular photo-sharing sites, such as Picasa™.

Using Bluetooth 2.0 technology, users can wirelessly beam their favorite images to other compatible devices. Using a Wi-Fi connection, users can now email photos directly from their camera and upload them to popular social networking sites. The CL65 also offers DLNA connectivity, allowing users to wirelessly connect to other DLNA compatible devices within their networked home, such as an HDTV, to view and share their images.

The CL65 sports a 3.5" wide touch-screen LCD. With a resolution of 1,152K, almost four times more than traditional cameras, the CL65's advanced display provides users with an enhanced viewing experience. The CL65 also incorporates Samsung's Smart Gesture User Interface. With a simple tilt, users can now easily access key features such as Smart Auto, movie, and program mode.

The CL65 comes with a 12.2 megapixel CCD and a high-quality, 35mm Schneider KREUZNACH lens. Offering a powerful internal 5x optical zoom, the CL65's lens produces clean and clear images with balanced resolution from the center of images to the edges. Alongside professional grade photos, the CL65 records 720p HD video at 30 frames-per-second in H.264 format, giving twice as much recording capacity as MPEG4 format, and four times more than MJPEG format, all in the palm of your hand. HDMI connectivity means that your HD videos can be enjoyed on any HDTV or HD Monitor.

Additionally, the camera's touch-screen user interface provides users with Samsung's innovative and intuitive One Touch Auto Focus system. This puts complete command of the camera's focusing system right in the hands of the photographer, allowing the user to pinpoint the exact area to lock focus on by simply touching the location on the LCD screen. Users can also automatically trigger the camera to then take the image by continuing to hold the location with their fingertip.

"The CL65 is all about spreading the joy everywhere from anywhere," said Sang Jin Park, CEO, Samsung Digital Imaging Co. Ltd. "Never before has a manufacturer provided such a range of technologies in a compact digital camera, giving consumers unprecedented flexibility when it comes to how, when, and where they share their digital images. Geo-tagging keeps track of where the photographer has been, allowing them to quickly and easily share content with their network, while Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi capabilities allow for the simplest of uploads without needing a computer. This new powerhouse point-and-shoot camera will raise the bar for innovation and set a new standard by which all other manufacturers will be measured."

CL65 SPECIFICATIONS

Wireless ConnectivityGeo-Tagging The CL65 utilizes GPS technology to automatically geo-tag digital images, recording the latitude and longitude of where in the world each photo is taken. The location data is automatically embedded into each image's EXIF file. Photo-sharing websites such as Picasa™ provide options for sharing one's images on a map of the world and can utilize the information stored in the image's EXIF file to pinpoint where the photo was taken.

The CL65 will display the name of the city on the camera's LCD screen, providing users with a display of the location where they're taking a photo, as well as a handy reference for when they are reviewing images on the camera's LCD screen.

Bluetooth 2.0Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity is also included, allowing users to share and transfer photos wirelessly and seamlessly. Using Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, you can beam your favorite digital images from the CL65 directly to compatible devices, such as mobile phones. When using Bluetooth 2.0, the CL65 will automatically resize the digital image to best fit the resolution of the host screen it will be displayed on.

Wi-Fi and DLNAThe CL65 is DLNA compliant (Digital Living Network Alliance), allowing the camera to wirelessly connect to other DLNA compliant devices, such as HDTVs. This gives the CL65 user the ability to move content from their camera to other consumer electronics devices throughout their home. To maximize speed and efficiency, all images transferred through Wi-Fi will be reduced to a resolution of two mega-pixels.

The CL65 makes it easy for users to upload or share their digital images with others right from their digital camera. Through Wi-Fi, users can send a digital image to any email address stored in your camera's address book or by using the camera's touch-screen QWERTY keypad. The CL65's Wi-Fi connection also allows users to upload their images directly to popular websites such as Facebook®, Picasa™ and YouTube®.

Smart Gesture User Interface (UI)When it comes to smart, user-friendly features, the CL65 leads the way. Take for example the camera's innovative Smart Gesture UI with built-in Gravity sensor, which lets you quickly access and use key features with either a simple tap or a hand gesture.

Using other advanced features is just as simple. With the Smart Gesture UI you can quickly scroll through your photos by slightly tilting the device in either direction or by selecting the appropriate photos for a slide show. You can also easily delete photos from your library using Smart Gesture UI by marking an "X" on the screen using your finger, or you can simply save your favorite photos into a separate folder. Additionally, if you want to rotate an image, you can draw a circle (O) on the screen, and if you want to see the next image in your library you can drag it on to the screen with a sweep of your finger or by simply tilting the device.

3.5" Wide Touch-Screen Back LCDThe 3.5" wide touch-screen LCD located on the back of the CL65 displays some of the sharpest images of any camera available today. This ultra-wide LCD offers a 1,152K resolution, almost four times more resolution than other traditional camera displays. Unlike other digital cameras, the LCD touch-screen uses Samsung's unique haptic technology, providing users with a slight vibration and audible beep whenever they select an option within the touch-screen display.

Advanced Dual Image Stabilization (IS)Samsung's Advanced Dual Image Stabilization (IS) technology allows you to capture crystal clear, blur-free images. The CL65's true Dual IS combines both Optical and Digital Image stabilizers to produce sharp images without the confusion commonly found in other cameras. The Optical IS intelligently compensates for hand trembling by shifting the lens in the opposite direction. When Optical IS isn't quite enough, the Digital IS automatically takes over to ensure blur-free images.

HD Video RecordingBesides the ability to take high-quality digital still images, the CL65 also offers impressive 720P HD video recording at 30 frames per second. The CL65 uses H.264, which allows you to record twice as much content as MPEG4 format, and four times more than MJPEG, the format typically used in other digital cameras. The CL65 also offers HDMI connectivity (adapter sold separately) so that you can enjoy your HD video, as well as digital still images, on an HDTV or HD monitor.

Smart AutoSamsung's Smart Auto feature ensures that users never have to worry about their photos being washed out, too dark, or out of focus. Smart Auto analyzes key elements of your composition such as color, brightness, motion, and subject and then automatically selects the appropriate scene mode which will produce the best results possible.

Smart AlbumWith Samsung's convenient Smart Album feature, you can quickly scroll through your entire library of images and organize them in the way that's best for you. This unique feature allows you to organize photos by Location (if geo-tagged), Favorite (if tagged as a "favorite" photo), Face (someone you've taken many photos of), Timeline (date photos were taken), Week, Color, and Content (photos, videos, voice-note).

Perfect Portrait SystemPicture-perfect moments at their bestSamsung's Perfect Portrait System takes the guess work out of shooting beautiful portraits. Key features of this system are Samsung's Smile Shot and Blink Detection technologies which automatically detect when your subjects are smiling and if their eyes are closed, allowing you to capture them looking their best. Another advanced feature is the Red-eye Fix mode. This in camera feature fixes the typical red-eye associated with the use of the flash, before the photo is produced, a significant time saver as you don't have to spend time afterwards removing red-eyes from your photos.

Smart Touch Shooting and Auto-FocusSometimes the focal point of your picture is not always in the center of the frame. In cases like this, the CL65's Smart Touch Auto Focus feature allows you to focus on a different part of the shot by simply touching the desired area. That means your subject, no matter where in the frame it may be, will always be in focus. Once you've selected the focal point, you can simply leave your finger on the screen for two seconds or push the shutter button to take the picture.

Smart Face RecognitionThe CL65 features Samsung's advanced Face Recognition technology which automatically stores up to 20 preferred faces to the camera's internal memory. While taking a portrait, the CL65 will automatically recognize if one of the user's preferred faces is in the frame and identify them as a priority for focus and exposure. Users can also save time sorting through their photos by searching only for those that contain a specific face.

Beauty ShotSamsung's Beauty Shot feature lets you remove all the imperfections on your subject's face such as wrinkles, blemishes and moles. Simply select one of two editing options to even out skin tone and complexion.

Photo Style Selector and Highlight FeatureThe CL65 is designed to help you enhance your creativity when it comes to digital imaging. Samsung's Photo Style Selector allows you to transform your photos from simple memories to works of art. Choose from a wide selection of artistic treatments ranging from classic black and white to something more vivid, giving you full control over the color tones of your image. Additionally, with Samsung's unique highlight feature, you can focus on one area of your photo and blur everything around it, turning a normal photo into something much more complex.

The front LCD screen is blended into the shiny black body of the camera. You can tap it gently to activate the front LCD screen or you can use the menu on the back touch screen to activate the front screen. The front LCD screen assures you that you will always be properly framed. And when the front LCD is used in self-portrait mode, the camera activates its smile detection technology and the camera will automatically fire when a smile is detected.And when dual views are used in child mode, the front LCD will play a fun animation program to capture the child's attention, so he or she will look at the camera.Dual views can also be used in shutter info mode to alert your subject to smile when you press the shutter button half way down.The camera features 12.2 megapixel resolution. Its 27mm wide-angle lens in 35mm equivalent, with a 4.6x optical zoom makes it good for scenery shots.During the tests, we found the camera took good quality shots. The pictures are sharp and clear, especially when they are taken in a well-lit environment.One of our staff took the ST550 on a trip to Korea and captured good quality, colourful shots.Its smart auto mode worked well by selecting proper scene modes automatically. For example, it correctly selected scenery mode when I took photos of outdoor scenes and selected portrait mode when I shot faces of my subjects.We especially like its beauty shot mode. The camera fires a bright flash to lighten a subject's face, making the skin appear smooth and giving a youthful appearance.The camera also has advanced dual-image stabilisation for ensuring blur-free shots in most environments. But the camera will warn you if its limit has been reached at any particular shutter speed.The camera is also equipped with "smart gesture", which allows a user to quickly scroll through the photos by tilting the device in either direction or by selecting the appropriate photos for a slide show.Its 3.5-inch touch-screen back LCD is good for reviewing the shots.The Samsung ST550 retails for Bt11,990.Specifications: Samsung ST550Effective pixels: 12.2 megapixels Lens: Schneider-Kreuznach f = 4.9 - 22.5mm (35mm film equivalent: 27 - 124.2mm)F No: F3.5 (W) - F5.9 (T) Main display: 3.5-inch (8.9cm) 1152K Full Touch LCDFront display: 1.5-inch (3.8cm) 185K TFT LCDSuper macro: 3cm - 8cm Shutter speed: auto: 1/8 - 1/2000 sec; program: 1 - 1/2000 sec; night: 8 - 1/2000 sec; fireworks: 2 secs.ISO equivalent: auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 Media: about 55MB internal memory; expandable with Micro SD (up to 4GB guaranteed) and Micro SDHC (up to 8GB guaranteed)Still image shooting: smart auto, auto, program, dual IS, sceneMax video recording: 1280 x 720 (30 / 15 fps)Dimensions: 99.8 x 59.8 x 18.6mm Weight: 165.7g (without battery and card)

Thursday, October 29, 2009

The DigitalCamera-HQ posted a review about Samsung HMX-U10 camcorder as follows:

The Samsung SMX-U10 is a new pocket camcorder that goes head-to-head with the Flip Ultra and Kodak Zx1. The U10 can (allegedly) do full 1080p video and 10-megapixel still photos. That's big talk; whether it can back it up with real quality isn't clear.

Though dominant, the Flip series of pocket camcorders is somewhat lacking. In our reviews of the Flip Ultra, Flip MinoHD, and Flip UltraHD, we've made note of several features that we wish these camcorders had, or that we felt that they had no good excuse for not having.

In the meantime, competitors like Kodak have begun to address those concerns with their own pocket camcorders. In our review of the Kodak Zx1, we were very impressed with the company's efforts in expanding the potential of what has been a very barebones style to this point.

Now, Samsung has decided to enter the pocket camcorder fray, and their initial model is (at least according to initially announced specifications), far beyond what one might expect.

Broader Features: Still Photos, Full HD

The biggest feature on the all-new Samsung HMX-U10 pocket camcorder is its resolution. The U10 offers full, 1080p high-definition video. No other (reputable) pocket camcorder can boast such a resolution, with the Flip and Kodak models topping out at 720p. Sony's "Webby" camcorders have tricky 1440 x 1080 pixel resolution, which they try to claim is full HD but isn't.

Common sense dictates that a camera with a manufacturer's retail price of $199, like the HMX-U10, should not be able to produce accurate, high-quality 1080p video. Because it's Samsung, we're willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but will remain skeptical until we can get our hands on a unit for review. The U10 uses H.264 video compression.

Convergence: 10-Megapixel Stills

Still photo functionality has been elusive on pocket camcorders, for reasons that are unclear. The Flip camcorders avoided it completely, one of our biggest criticisms of the brand. Kodak's Zx1 threw in a fairly adequate 3-megapixel still photo mode, which was a nice step forward. Samsung claims that the U10 will have a 10-megapixel still photo mode, which, just like the 1080p video, is a very big claim for such a small, inexpensive camcorder.

The U10's 10-megapixel photos will not look as good as a 10-megapixel photo from a true digital camera. For starters, the U10 has no optical zoom and (it seems) no image stabilization. 10 megapixels might just be overkill in a camcorder like this, but since it doesn't drive the price up too much, it's not much of a concern.

Conclusion: Wait and See

It's hard to pass judgment on the U10 without seeing it. Its bold claims strain credulity. If it does somehow manage to produce high-quality 1080p video and 10-megapixel stills, however, it's sure to completely blow open this market and send Flip back to the drawing board.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

The USA Today has posted an article about Samsung's TL225 digital camera.

Clown animation on the front of the Samsung DualView TL225 camera is designed to get kids to smile for their photo. You can change the animation, too.

By Edward C. Baig, USA TODAYIn the social-networking age of Twitter and Facebook, lots of people snap self-portraits for online profiles and such. Samsung has designed a digital camera that promises to make it much easier to capture your own mug. The company's new DualView TL225 point-and-shoot, which I've enjoyed shooting with for several days, boasts a large, 3.5-inch LCD display on the back and a smaller, 1.5-inch screen on the front.My initial reaction was that this dual-screen, $350 compact must have gimmick written all over it. But the front display is practical, for much the same reason that self-portrait mirrors come in handy on some camera-phones. Moreover, people who own camcorders commonly flip their LCD displays to get a lens'-eye view of what's being shot.

There's nothing to flip or rotate on the Samsung the front LCD is embedded on the camera and isn't even visible until you tap the front of the camera. Tapping again makes it disappear. Through camera settings, you can always leave it on or off. You'll want to leave it off when you don't need it so as not to drain the battery.

The camera elicited positive reactions from the folks I photographed. Though far from perfect, it takes generally excellent pictures, especially outdoors. It's one of those cool "why didn't I think of that?" gadgets.

Here's a closer look:

Camera basics. You quickly come to appreciate the 27mm lens, wider than you usually see on a point-and-shoot. The 12.2-megapixel camera has a 4.6X optical zoom and image stabilization to reduce the shakes. There's also a slot for a memory card, but you'll have to supply your own and it is a MicroSD card rather than the SD card that's become a de facto standard on most compact cameras. You can snap only a few pictures using the camera's internal memory.

As with most point-and-shoots these days, the camera can shoot video, too, but you can't take advantage of the front display while capturing a scene. Through an optional adapter, you can connect it to a high-definition television or HD monitor, via HDMI. You can also record voice memos.

Samsung uses a proprietary USB cable for connecting the camera to a computer, printer or the supplied AC adapter for charging, so you best not forget it if you travel.

A mixed bag of tricks. The front display isn't just for shooting self-portraits. Your subjects may get a kick out of seeing their faces, too (and pose accordingly). When the self-timer is on, a 3-2-1 countdown cleverly reminds your group when to smile. The screen is small, though, so you won't see everything that's in the background of your shot.

A major challenge for many parents is getting kids to sit still for pictures. In Child Mode, you can use the front display to show them an animated video of a clown. With any luck, the youngsters will be enthralled just long enough for you to get them to flash a grin.

My kids found the clown amusing, but I worry about how quickly the thrill will fade. Starting in October, Samsung will wisely let you download new animations for free. Only one animation can exist on the camera at a time.

The camera also makes use of smartphonelike finger gestures with "haptic" vibration feedback that lets you know that your menu selections have been registered. You can flick the back display to move from one picture you're viewing to the next. You can "draw" a circle to rotate an image. And you can also draw an X on the back screen to delete a photo the gesture I found the most useful. If you have second thoughts, you can resurrect deleted images from a recycle bin (so long as you have enough memory).

Yet another trick: The camera can automatically identify smiling faces and can snap the shutter at the opportune moment. Blink detection is supposed to recognize when a subject's eyes are shut, but I couldn't get it to work. As with many other state-of-the-art shooters, it also has face detection and numerous shooting modes.

APCI is the group that France government built in 1983 for industry and culture of France. Purpose of this group is promoting French design in France and abroad. They also work for design schools and agencies in France to develope their design skills.

APCI holds ‘Observeur du Design Award’ every year to award to the most innovative designed product. And guess what? Samsung SMX-C10 camcorder won the 1st prize out of 1500 competitive products this year!

SMX-C10 camcorder was rewarded for strong brand visibility and contributing to educate the general public on design.

APCI also processed competition for ICSID (International Council of Societies of Industrial Design) label from June. 15 Samsung products received this label so they are now going to be displayed at the Cité des Sciences & de l’Industrie for 3 months, from October 2009 to February 2010.

The PC Magazine has posted an aritlce about Samsung TL225 digital camera.

It's not easy for a camera manufacturer to come up with that one killer feature that will set its shooter apart from the crowded pack. Samsung has done just that with by adding an LCD to the front of the 12.2-megapixel Samsung DualView TL225 ($349.99 list). Acting as a forward-facing viewfinder, the second display gives you an easy way to capture self-portraits. An innovative idea, but you can't help but wonder if this camera is a one-trick pony. Thankfully, it's not—the combination of an excellent user interface, a high-resolution 3.5-inch, touch-screen LCD, and stellar image quality help make the TL225 our latest Editors' Choice point-and-shoot camera.

Measuring 2.4 by 3.9 by .73 (HWD), the TL225's thin body is a sleek black with a ring of color (purple, orange, red or blue), and doesn't include many physical controls. Along the top of the camera, you'll find the shutter release, a Power button, a Play button, and a Zoom slider. With its $299.95 (list) Coolpix S60, Nikon made the mistake of omitting physical Zoom controls, instead putting the Zoom slider on the touch screen, which makes zooming much more difficult when you're framing shots. With a focal length of 27-124.2mm (35mm equivalent) and maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.9, the TL225 offers an impressive 4.6x zoom range. The 27mm wide-angle lens is a nice addition; you can fit more into the frame without having to further distance yourself from your subject.

Two Displays are Better than OneWhile the camera's bonus front LCD is the attention grabber here, the 3.5-inch touch-screen display that dominates the back panel is also very impressive. With 1,152K dots and 800-by-480-pixel resolution, it's the sharpest display you'll find on any camera. Its resolution even trumps the LCDs on high-end smartphones like the Apple iPhone 3GS and the Palm Pre. By comparison, top-tier point-and-shoot cameras, like the $330 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700, typically include 230K-dot displays, while high-end D-SLRs, such as the Canon EOS Rebel T1i ($899.99 list) usually pack 921K dots. Images on the TL225's LCD are incredibly crisp with excellent contrast and color. In my tests, I never had any trouble seeing the display while indoors or in bright sunlight. The screen also offers haptic feedback, so the camera vibrates gently when you press one of its on-screen buttons, so you know you've made contact. The touch-screen is extremely responsive and navigating the user interface is a breeze.

At 1.5-inches, the front-facing LCD is small and with 61K dots, it's significantly lower-resolution than the main display, but it's more than enough to let you know if you and your buddies are in the frame. The LCD is located to the left of the lens, and tapping it turns it on and off. Also, it turns on automatically when one of three front-display-enabled shooting modes are activated: Self Portrait, Self Timer, or Children. The latter of which shows an animated clown intended to get kids to smile for the camera. (Heck, it even worked on me!)

Performance ResultsSpeed results for the TL225 are a mixed bag: You can power up the camera and snap a picture in an average of 2.28 seconds, while the wait time between shots is only 2.37 seconds. Using Shooting Digital's Shutter Lag Test, the TL225 averaged an underwhelming .63 seconds for shutter press to image capture. This is a bit of a drag considering that the $330 Canon PowerShot SD980 IS cuts this time down to .44 seconds, while the very-speedy Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 ($280) averaged just .32 seconds of lag.

The camera takes fantastic pictures and thus showed good results in our photo lab. Imatest indicated some distortion at each lens position, but not enough to cause images to warp significantly. At its wide-angle position (27mm), 1.67 percent of the image is affected by barrel distortion. The Panasonic ZR1 had similar results at its widest angle (25mm) with 1.70 percent; distortion nearly doubled to 2.97 percent with the Canon SD980 IS (at 24mm). There's some pincushion distortion at the TL225's telephoto position, but it's insignificant at 1.34 percent.

Shots taken with the TL225 are sharp at the center of the frame, averaging 2116 lines per picture height. Moving towards the outside regions, the sharpness drops by 42 percent–better than the Canon SD980's 56 percent drop or the 52 percent drop with the Panasonic ZR1. The TL225 does a fine job of handling noise too. In my tests, the camera produced usable images up to ISO 800.

The TL225 can shoot 720p high-definition video at 30 frames per second. Like its sibling, the Samsung SL820, footage from the TL225 looks and sounds great, but audio is muted while zooming to avoid picking up the lens motor hum. Also, if you use the optical zoom while recording, the lens can't refocus.

Using a proprietary HDMI cable, the camera can display high-def video on an HDTV, and even supports Consumer Electronics Control (CEC), so you can use your compatible television remote to navigate through the menus on the attached camera. Like the HDMI cable, the USB cable also includes a proprietary connector, but the camera can also charge its battery via USB. The Canon SD980 IS includes standard mini USB and mini HDMI ports, which are more convenient, and the accompanying cables are easier to replace.

The TL225 writes to microSDHC cards, omitting the standard SDHC card slot found in most other digital cameras. Used in most cell phones, I wouldn't be surprised to see microSDHC become commonplace in digital cameras in the near future. But if you have standard-size SD or SDHC cards from an old camera, you're out of luck here.

We don't formally test camera battery life, but you should keep in mind that the TL225 does have two LCDs, and one of them is a big, high-res screen that could potentially suck a lot of power. While it wasn't a huge problem, I did have to charge my TL225 a couple of times during the week-long test period.

With solid image quality, an incredibly sharp and responsive touch-screen LCD, and an innovative front-mounted display for self-portraits, the Samsung DualView TL225 delivers a stellar shooting experience, so it's our latest Editors' Choice point-and-shoot camera. But if $350 is out of your price range, Samsung offers a more-affordable DualView camera, the TL220 ($299.99 list), with the same feature set save for HDMI connectivity and an ultra-high resolution display.

It happened that I became one of the Samsung camera experience group members. Personally I do not like being paid for doing something though. However, my blood type is B so I say what I have to say even though I’m remunerated for my service.

Therefore, I have no intention of fawning too much and I don’t think anyone should do it. So I guess my reviews will be worth as information.

The camera of which I will be reviewing is the ST1000(CL65), one of Samsung’s strategic cameras in second half of the year. If you are interested in cameras, you must have seen an article…

You will find a lot of related articles if you search CL65, the overseas model name.

Above all, thanks to the powerful built-in wireless function, the ST1000(CL65) differentiates itself from other products by sharing photos with a social site without a PC.

GPS allows you to record location information on a photo and you can share photos with websites via Wi-Fi and you can freely send photos to a cell phone or other Bluetooth appliances thanks to an onboard Bluetooth. Isn’t that so cool? Wow! I can’t wait any more!

Now shall we see some photos of the product? I’m quite good at taking a photo of a product.

This is the front image. It does kind of look like aluminum but it’s plastic. However I don’t think it is a regular material but it looks like a reinforced plastics, I guess.

There is a mark ‘GPS’ on the front and ‘Wi-Fi’ on the back, but I couldn’t find a mark ‘Bluetooth’. It, however, surely supports Bluetooth!

This is the back image. The LCD is very large, isn’t it? The size is 3.5-inch and the design is very neat because there is no button thanks to the full touch LCD.

One thing I don’t like is that they did not use SD card as a memory as usual but used MicroSD card. It is a pretty excellent choice in terms of compatibility with the cell phone but the price to capacity does not come up with SD card. Personally I don’t like the small size for fear of losing it.

I now turned the camera on. Isn’t the blue light around the power button pretty? This may be called ‘edgy’? And take a look at the features shown on the back LCD. Personally I do not like a touch interface but for the camera, it is very instinctive and easy to use.

As this product is a sample for the experience group, there is no other accessory but an adapter and cable for charge. Although differently from the previous Samsung digital camera, it is not 24 pin cable for cell phone, I like the USB type of adapter. I really hate to carry a heavy adapter when I travel.

SAMSUNG ST1000(CL65) - 1/45s F3.6 ISO320

This is a photo I took first as soon as I received the camera under auto mode. I simply re-sized.

It is a little difficult for me to say that the noise suppression is good even though it is ISO 320. However, I can say that the auto white balance is pretty precise while it was dark indoor and the color reappearance is not bad. If you ask me how I can opine about the color reappearance with the white desk and cup, well…

Having used it for the last couple of days, it surely made me to cast away my prejudice over the Samsung camera that I had before only looking at the photo performance. It really became much better and can compete with some renowned Japanese digital camera. Well, it still may be difficult to compete with other manufacturers.

One of the reasons I wanted to buy the iPhone was that I can share photos immediately with internet. Now, I can say to the iPhone ‘Go away’!

All the features of this camera made it possible. If you read my postings, SNS users will probably buy this camera, I presume. Your kind attention to my four coming reviews of the features will be highly appreciated.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Mobile phones? MP3 players? Recently, slim pocket HD camcorders have been getting more popular. They look different and weird, but allow users to carry them for all day long with a slim and cute design, great videos, and UCC sharing system. You don’t need to open a bag or things like that as you did with other camcorders. You can just take it out from your pocket and shoot. They are active and fast to shoot. There are some Point and Shoot HD camcorders in the world such as Flip from PB, Z series from Kodak, and Webbie from Sony. Especially, in the USA, these P&S HD camcorders are quite popular these days. It’s because its simplicity to shoot and share as a camcorder. Samsung also has started to produce a P&S camcorder with the HMX-U10 having 1/2.3” 10M sensor.

Compared with 1440x1080 30p or 720p of other camcorders, far more outstanding video quality of the U10 comes from the 1/2.3” 10M CMOS sensor. The U10 will be a leading product in the domestic market of the Full HD P&S camcorder, I think. Simply taking anything in a Full-HD quality and sharing with the U10. The Full-HD quality is quite surprising and vivid. The control of 10M still image and video shot is so easy with their separate buttons. Especially, the ergonomic design of 7 degree angle allows users very comfortable grip and the body is the slimmest among all the Full HD camcorders in the world.

Supporting 60 fps on 720p or 480p is impressive. Dual recharging type with USB and AC adapter, light weight, convenient sharing system with the built-in Intelli-Studio, and simple interface based on Full HD videos are remarkable. It’s a quite charming product as a P&S camcorder with great portability like a mobile phone and its quality.

Beyond the imagine, Full HD quality

You can’t look down it by looking at the small size. I expected the great quality by looking at the specification of the sensor, but the real quality of the Full-HD was as great as other normal camcorders. It’s a real Full HD video totally different from videos of 1440x1080 resolution. It has some functional limits such as no zoom and 1.3m of distance from subjects, but it’s not easy for you to see this great snap camcorder supporting high quality with light. Compared to the small size, it shows the best Full HD video quality.

Because of built-in WiFi, a photo taken can be instantly uploaded to a website like Picasa, YouTube, Facebook and etc..

Because of built-in Bluetooth, you can send a photo to a laptop computer, cell phone, PMP and etc. with built-in Bluetooth.

Thanks to DLNA support, you can send data wirelessly to TV or PC that support the relevant function.

Of course, you can email images directly from the camera.

It also gives you information on location where you took a picture. You can’t lie with a photo now.

I made my own ST1000(C65) with masking tape stripe.

You can download a software for the Samsung ST1000(CL65) to check photos. On the photos you took with GPS on can you see a mark, ‘map’. If you click ‘Map’ on the top, you can see an address and map as follows.

There are four types of items like ‘Map’, ‘Satellite’, ‘Overlap’ and ‘Topography’.

It supports a large 3.5-inch touchscreen entirely around the back.

The ST1000(CL65) has a slim and simple design with its cutting edge features.

I’ll show you the strengths of the ST1000(CL65) later but please enjoy some sample photos I took.